Drought effects on the floristic differentiation of Greek fir forests in the mountains of central Greece

Samaras, Dimitrios; Gaertner, S.; Reif, Albert; Θεοδωρόπουλος, Κωνσταντίνος

doi:10.3832/ifor1214-007

Cited by 4 publications

(11 citation statements)

References 59 publications

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“…However, the size and position of gaps in the Dinaric fir-beech forest should be carefully adjusted due to sensitive karst terrain with respect to diverse geomorphological features (Kobal et al 2015), microsite conditions (Cater et al 2014), drought-related factors (Samaras et al 2015) and climate change predictions (Kutnar & Kobler 2011, especially in the southern exposed limestone slopes, such that forest regeneration and soil productivity are not jeopardized. Although the link between climate change adaption and forest conservation in Natura 2000 areas is mostly an issue for a high-level policy debate (De Koning et al 2014), the results of this study, which included plots with widely varying microclimatic conditions, could serve as the basis for a better understanding of predicted climate changes in such forest types (Kutnar & Kobler 2011).…”

Section: Silvicultural Effects On Plant Diversity In Illyrian Beech Hmentioning

confidence: 99%

Effects of different silvicultural measures on plant diversity - the case of the Illyrian Fagus sylvatica habitat type (Natura 2000)

Kutnar¹,

Eler²,

Marinšek³

2016

iForest

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In Slovenia, the Natura 2000 network covers more than 37% of the country. Forests dominate more than 70% of this area, and forest management is a significant driver of diversity. Depending on the options applied, forest management may enhance or decrease forest biodiversity. Dinaric fir-beech forests (part of Natura 2000 habitat type) with remarkable nature-conservation interest and timber production functions were selected for this study. With the aim of testing the effects of different silvicultural measures on plant diversity in these forests, and consequently on biodiversity in a broader sense, three sites in the Slovenian part of a Dinaric fir-beech forest range were studied. The plant species diversity was assessed before and after the implementation of silvicultural measures of three intensities: (1) control plots -no logging; (2) logging of 50% of the growing stock; and (3) logging of 100% of the growing stock. Before the implementation of the silvicultural measures, the mean number of plant species per 400 m² vegetation plots was 48.8, and the mean value of the Shannon's diversity index was 2.41. Two years after the measures were implemented, different magnitudes of plant species turnover were observed. There were no significant changes in plant diversity status and vegetation composition in the control plots. Two years after 50% of the growing stock was logged, the mean number of species was 73.3, and the mean value of the Shannon index was 3.21. In the plots where all the trees were removed, the mean number of species was 87.4, and the mean value of the Shannon index was 3.42. In parallel with the increases in the diversity parameters, the cover of the herbaceous layer increased significantly with an increase in the silvicultural intensity, indicating that short-term species turnover can mostly be attributed to herbaceous plant species. As a result of changed stand and ecological conditions, an increased plant diversity, a greater biodiversity in a broader sense and an improved habitat suitability for different animal species could be expected.

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Section: Silvicultural Effects On Plant Diversity In Illyrian Beech Hmentioning

confidence: 99%

Effects of different silvicultural measures on plant diversity - the case of the Illyrian Fagus sylvatica habitat type (Natura 2000)

Kutnar¹,

Eler²,

Marinšek³

2016

iForest

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“…A minor part of the observed variability could be associated with the initial height of seedlings, especially for seedlings showing high rates of apical growth.Land 2020, 9, 100 2 of 15 increased thereafter [6]. The species is not linked to specific soil conditions [7] and the flora of the stands is related to drought stress. It has been shown that in similar mountainous environments, the importance of summer drought is geographically differentiated: while it is crucial in marginal, mostly low-altitude and/or low geographical latitude sites, the importance fades as one moves up and northwards [8,9].…”

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confidence: 99%

Determination of the Environmental Factors that Affect the Growth and Survival of Greek Fir Seedlings

Detsis

Efthimiou

Theodoropoulou

et al. 2020

Land

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Forests in the montane-Mediterranean zone have only recently began to be affected by wildfires, therefore the knowledge necessary for restoration projects is missing. The aim of the study was to assess the effects of factors related to seedling attributes, weather conditions and site suitability on seedling performance. The characterisation of sites was based on bedrock and soil clay content as well as pre-fire vegetation. Apical growth and survival of seedlings was monitored for four years in Parnitha National Park. The parameters of a linear mixed model were estimated using annual apical growth of seedlings surviving in the end of the study as the dependent variable and type of site, rainfall, initial seedling height and age as explanatory ones. A quantile regression model using all the data available was estimated for each year of study, taking into account only initial height and site type as well as a logistic regression model of survival. The findings indicate that the growth of Greek fir seedlings depends on May rainfall mediated by soil clay content, which in turn depends on bedrock, which is consistent with the “inverse texture hypothesis”. Sites with low soil clay content were always more beneficial for survival, which was stronger affected by summer–autumn rainfall. In both contexts, drought stress due to soil clay content fades with increasing age. Sites that were not fir dominated prior to fire proved unsuitable also for planting fir seedlings. A minor part of the observed variability could be associated with the initial height of seedlings, especially for seedlings showing high rates of apical growth.

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“…Two new variables were created, "exposure to the north" and "exposure to the east", with the use of trigonometric functions (Leyer and Wesche 2007). Additional vegetation data from 17 relevés were obtained from Samaras et al (2008Samaras et al ( , 2015.…”

Section: Vegetation Analysismentioning

confidence: 99%

“…Although fir forests in Greece receive abundant precipitation during autumn and winter, they may suffer from drought in summer (Aussenac 2002). Drought plays a crucial role in the floristic composition, structure and distribution of coniferous forest communities in southern and south-central Greece (Bergmeier 2002;Samaras et al 2015). In south-central Greece, there are two types of fir forest vegetation: mesophytic and xerophytic (Samaras et al 2015).…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…Drought plays a crucial role in the floristic composition, structure and distribution of coniferous forest communities in southern and south-central Greece (Bergmeier 2002;Samaras et al 2015). In south-central Greece, there are two types of fir forest vegetation: mesophytic and xerophytic (Samaras et al 2015). Drought is the main abiotic factor that affects and weakens fir trees, making them vulnerable to bark beetle attacks (Tsopelas et al 2004).…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

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Effect of climate change on fir forest communities in the mountains of South-central Greece

Samaras

Damianidis

Fotiadis

et al. 2022

European Journal of Environmental Sciences

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The endemic oro-Mediterranean fir (Abies spp.) forests in Greece are valuable ecosystems with high ecological and economic importance. In the mountains in south-central Greece, the availability of moisture plays a crucial role in the floristic composition, structure and distribution of fir forest communities. Because of the predicted adverse climate changes for the Mediterranean zone, suitability of many habitats for the growth of fir forests will change. This study aims to quantify the degree to which these forests will be affected by climate change. Current and future climatic conditions in the area studied were estimated for two periods of time (2041 – 60, 2061 – 80) and two climate change scenarios (RCP 4.5, RCP 8.5). Vegetation releves were classified and ordinated. Recursive partitioning was used to reveal the most important factor for discriminating the main plant communities and determining the ecological threshold between them. Current and future suitability of bioclimatic space for fir forest communities was identified. The effect of climate change was assessed based on predicted changes in the potential distribution, in terms of size and location, of fir forest communities. Two plant communities that reflect the differentiation of fir forests into xerophytic and mesophytic forest types are described. Among several climatic variables, spring drought was the best factor discriminating these two forest communities. The quantification of the threshold for drought in these two plant communities was used to predict their potential distribution in the area studied. Potential distribution of fir forests in south-central Greece will change in the future, due to a reduction in suitable bioclimatic space and shift to higher altitudes. The effect is expected to be greater for xerophytic forest communities, especially in the worst-case scenario (RCP 8.5) and in 2061–80.

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Drought effects on the floristic differentiation of Greek fir forests in the mountains of central Greece

Cited by 4 publications

References 59 publications

Effects of different silvicultural measures on plant diversity - the case of the Illyrian Fagus sylvatica habitat type (Natura 2000)

Effects of different silvicultural measures on plant diversity - the case of the Illyrian Fagus sylvatica habitat type (Natura 2000)

Determination of the Environmental Factors that Affect the Growth and Survival of Greek Fir Seedlings

Effect of climate change on fir forest communities in the mountains of South-central Greece

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